The Volkswagen Motorsport crew of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia rounded off a textbook weekend by adding the Rallye de France Alsace victory to their first FIA World Rally Championship title*. The French duo fought back from fifth on Friday to go into the final day of competition in a four-way battle for outright honours in the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship. Second overall was claimed by Citroën’s Dani Sordo and Carlos del Barrio while Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila took the final podium position. Surprisingly, out-going World Rally Champions and national heroes Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena retired this morning, the duo rolling out of the event in the first stage.

 

In the FIA World Rally Championship, Ogier claimed the title on Thursday’s opening Super Special Power Stage, where additional Championship points are awarded to the fastest three drivers through this single stage. With Neuville not claiming the maximum bonus points in this stage, the title went to Ogier basically before he had even turned a wheel in the rally. The fight for second in the Championship continues between Thierry Neuville and Latvala and the rivals are split by 18 points with two rounds remaining. In the Manufacturers’ Championship, top points for Volkswagen sees it edge closer towards the title.

 

Latvala led a battling foursome into the first stage this morning but Ogier’s pace was sensational and a fastest time by more than eight seconds catapulted him into the lead. The Frenchman went on to win each of the first three stages to consolidate his advantage, enabling both he and Ingrassia to win by 12.2 seconds. An uncharacteristic error by Loeb saw him spin off the stage in treacherous conditions and roll down a bank, forcing him into retirement in his final event in the FIA World Rally Championship. Sordo maintained second with one stage win and Latvala rounded off the podium positions.

 

Behind the leading trio, Neuville was so close to a maiden WRC victory yesterday but ultimately claimed fourth ahead of Russian Evgeny Novikov. Mikko Hirvonen slipped off the road in the opening stage but finished sixth overall. Former Formula One driver Robert Kubica notched up his fourth WRC 2 Championship victory of the season and finished an impressive ninth overall ahead of FIA World Endurance Championship driver Roman Dumas. 

 

In addition to the WRC Drivers’ crown, two other Championship titles were won this weekend in France*. Sweden’s Pontus Tidemand clinched the FIA Junior WRC Championship after securing his third win in five rallies, and Sébastien Chardonnet’s second position in the FIA WRC 3 Championship was enough to secure him the series win.

 

The 12th round of the FIA World Rally Championship takes the contenders to Salou, Spain (24-27 October) for the penultimate round run on both Tarmac and gravel.

 

* Subject to the official publication of the results by the FIA

 

Rallye de France Alsace – Final Unofficial Classification (subject to scrutineering)